10 Days in Bali: A Practical Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
This 10-day Bali itinerary combines Ubud’s temples and rice fields with time on the coast, using three overnight bases: Ubud, Sanur and Uluwatu. It is designed for a first visit with enough room for transfers, meals and a slower afternoon.
The trip is 10 calendar days and 9 nights. Day 1 includes arrival at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), and Day 10 includes departure from the same airport. Road times below are planning allowances, not guaranteed travel times. If your flight arrives late, spend the first night near the airport and shorten the first Ubud day.
10-day Bali itinerary at a glance
| Day | Plan | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive and transfer to Ubud | Ubud |
| 2 | Central Ubud and an optional performance | Ubud |
| 3 | Tegallalang and Tirta Empul | Ubud |
| 4 | Cooking class or art and a short walk | Ubud |
| 5 | Transfer to Sanur; settle in by the coast | Sanur |
| 6 | Sanur or an optional Nusa Penida day trip | Sanur |
| 7 | Transfer to Uluwatu; relaxed afternoon | Uluwatu |
| 8 | Uluwatu Temple and an optional Kecak performance | Uluwatu |
| 9 | Choose one beach and keep a flexible afternoon | Uluwatu |
| 10 | Departure from DPS | None |
Book four nights in Ubud, two in Sanur and three in Uluwatu. This route prioritizes central and southern Bali. It leaves Canggu, north Bali and the Gili Islands for another trip rather than adding more hotel changes.
Days 1–4: Ubud
Day 1: Arrive in Bali and settle into Ubud
Arrange a transfer to your actual accommodation, not simply “Ubud.” Hotels can be well outside the center. As a conservative planning allowance, leave 2–3 hours for the road journey after leaving the airport, with more time possible in heavy traffic. Immigration, baggage collection and the pickup meeting add separate time.
Check in, eat nearby and rest. If you arrive early and feel comfortable, take a short walk around your hotel. Do not buy a timed temple ticket or evening performance for arrival day. For a late-night landing, use an airport-area hotel and transfer the next morning.
Day 2: Explore central Ubud
Choose the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in the morning if you are comfortable around free-roaming macaques. Secure loose items and follow staff instructions. An art museum is a useful alternative if wildlife encounters do not appeal.
After lunch, explore the Ubud Palace and Art Market area at an easy pace. Ubud Palace and Ubud Water Palace are separate places, so check the venue carefully if booking a dance performance. Leave the late afternoon free, then attend a confirmed evening programme if you wish.
Our guide to things to do in Ubud explains individual visits, transport allowances and how to combine the sights.
Day 3: Tegallalang rice terraces and Tirta Empul
Use a driver for a northern countryside outing. Start with a selected Tegallalang entrance and walking route, then continue to Tirta Empul with a lunch break. Agree the route and return journey before leaving. Allow most of the day once you include hotel access, traffic, walking and breaks.
At the terraces, confirm what your ticket includes: walking access, a restaurant package and a swing experience can be different purchases. At Tirta Empul, follow the posted dress and access rules. Observing the temple and participating in melukat are different experiences; a ritual is optional and should follow local guidance.
If you prefer an organized outing, compare this Ubud private tour on Klook. Check the exact package, stops, pickup area and inclusions. A full-day tour replaces this day’s independent plan; do not book both.
Day 4: A cooking class or a slower day of art
For a food-focused morning, check the Ubud cooking class on Klook. Confirm your session’s market visit, pickup coverage, dietary arrangements and total duration before booking. Keep the afternoon open if lunch is part of the class.
Alternatively, take a short early Campuhan Ridge Walk and visit ARMA Museum later. Use a manageable out-and-back route, carry water and turn around before the heat becomes uncomfortable. These are alternatives to the cooking class, not additions to an already full schedule.
Days 5–6: Sanur
Day 5: Transfer from Ubud to Sanur
Check out after breakfast and travel to Sanur. Set aside roughly 1½–2½ hours for the road transfer as an initial allowance, then confirm with your hotel for your exact addresses and departure time. Avoid stacking several distant attractions into moving day.
After checking in, walk a section of the beachfront promenade, stop for lunch and settle into the slower coastal part of the trip. Choose accommodation within a comfortable walk of the beach and restaurants if you want to minimize short taxi journeys.
Day 6: Stay in Sanur or choose Nusa Penida
The default plan is a relaxed Sanur day: an early promenade walk, a leisurely breakfast and time at your hotel or a beach area suitable for the conditions. Swimming depends on tides, weather and local advice; a coastal setting does not guarantee safe swimming.
Nusa Penida is an optional full-day substitution for travelers who want an island excursion. Before booking, check the departure harbor, boat operator, hotel pickup, check-in time, sea conditions and what happens if sailings are canceled. A west-coast sightseeing tour and an east-coast tour are different programmes. Choose one rather than expecting to see everything.
Do not combine a rushed island tour with a hotel move or an international flight. Keep the second Sanur night so a delayed return does not immediately threaten another major booking. Travelers who dislike boat travel can simply keep the mainland plan.
Days 7–10: Uluwatu and departure
Day 7: Move to Uluwatu
Travel from Sanur to your Uluwatu-area accommodation after breakfast. Provisionally allow 1½–2½ hours, with the exact journey depending on traffic and where you stay on the Bukit Peninsula. “Uluwatu” covers a spread-out area; a hotel close to one beach can still require a drive to the temple.
Use the afternoon for a nearby meal, your accommodation’s facilities or a short outing. Leave the temple visit for tomorrow so a slow transfer does not turn into a race for a performance.
Day 8: Uluwatu Temple and Kecak
Keep the morning light and arrange transport for the afternoon and return. Visit Uluwatu Temple for the cliffside setting, follow the permitted paths and respect worship areas. Keep belongings secure around monkeys and stay behind barriers.
The national tourism board’s Uluwatu guide provides background and visitor information. Published entrance prices differ between official language pages, so confirm the current foreign-visitor ticket directly rather than relying on a fixed figure here.
If attending Kecak, check the date, session, arrival requirement and whether temple admission is included. A temple entrance ticket does not necessarily cover the performance. Give yourself time for the approach road, ticket checks and seating, and arrange the return pickup before the show.
Day 9: Choose one beach and leave room to relax
Pick one outing near your hotel, such as Padang Padang or Melasti, after checking access, steps and current conditions. Choose based on the experience you want rather than attempting several beaches across the peninsula. Cliff-backed beaches can involve stairs and uneven access.
Treat a beach day as time by the sea, with swimming conditional on local guidance. Keep the afternoon flexible for weather, a café stop or your hotel pool. If you missed the temple because of conditions, this day provides a useful backup.
Day 10: Depart from Bali
For a morning flight, go straight to the airport. For a later departure, stay close to your accommodation, confirm luggage storage and take a relaxed meal before your transfer. Do not plan a Nusa Penida excursion or a cross-island day trip.
Work backward from your airline’s required airport arrival time and add the road journey plus a traffic buffer. Ask your accommodation to assess the route for that day; the time you experienced on arrival is not a reliable departure estimate.
Where to stay for this route
Ubud, four nights: choose a central location for restaurants and town walks, or an outlying property if quiet surroundings matter more. Check the map and hotel access before booking; a remote villa creates more transport needs.
Sanur, two nights: stay near the promenade for an easy coastal break. If taking a boat trip, verify the actual harbor and transfer arrangements instead of assuming every beachfront hotel is beside departures.
Uluwatu, three nights: choose your preferred beach or hotel area first. Arrange transport for the temple and airport separately. This itinerary does not require you to ride a scooter.
Getting around and estimating costs
Private transfers are the simplest default for moving with luggage between these bases. Request a quote for the whole journey, including vehicle size, luggage, tolls, parking, waiting and any sightseeing stops. For day trips, agree the working hours and overtime terms.
Budget by travel party: nine accommodation nights, three main transfers plus the final airport run, daily meals, admissions and your selected activities. Compare live hotel and transport quotes for your dates. Divide shared car costs by the number traveling; do not confuse a vehicle price with a per-person price.
Leave additional money for drinking water, laundry and optional performances.
Practical checks before booking
Use the official Love Bali FAQ to check the foreign tourist levy, payment process and applicable exemptions. The published standard levy is IDR 150,000 per person. This is separate from accommodation and attraction tickets.
Check entry requirements for your nationality through the official Indonesian immigration portal before paying for travel. Do not assume another traveler’s visa eligibility applies to you.
If traveling near Nyepi, check your dates before booking flights, transfers and activities. The Bali government’s Nyepi information explains the island’s Day of Silence. Build the itinerary around the restrictions confirmed for your travel year.
For mobile data, compare an Indonesia eSIM with your own roaming plan and check phone compatibility, coverage and activation rules. Download hotel addresses and booking details for offline access before arrival.
For more destination planning, explore our Indonesia travel guides, including the detailed Ubud guide.
Bali itinerary FAQs
Is 10 days enough for a first visit?
Yes, for a selective route. This plan gives you Ubud, a coastal break in Sanur and time in Uluwatu. Adding north Bali, the Gili Islands and several island excursions would change the pace and require cutting other stops.
Should you include Nusa Penida?
Only if you want a boat excursion enough to dedicate a full day to it. It is optional here, not a requirement for a successful Bali trip. Keep the Sanur overnight afterward and retain a mainland alternative.
Can you do this route without a scooter?
Yes. Use prearranged transfers for moving days and drivers or suitable tours for outings. Choose accommodation with nearby meals and check return transport before heading to an outlying attraction.
What changes for a late arrival or early departure?
For a late arrival, stay near the airport and use part of Day 2 for the transfer to Ubud, reducing town sightseeing. For an early departure, keep Day 9 light and consider spending the final night closer to DPS if your accommodation recommends it.
Planning notes checked October 25, 2026. Journey allowances are editorial estimates. Confirm dated tickets, access, transport and booking conditions before paying.